Biggest differences with Cowboys from this year to last

May 1, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer on the field during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images | Chris Jones-Imagn Images

Things feel different. We have been saying this for a while now. The Dallas Cowboys have legitimately-founded excitement around them, but they remain a franchise with a 30-year shadow hanging over them. Both things can be true.

Today we are going to be looking at what is different about the Cowboys right now as opposed to this time last year. To be clear differences are not always positive, but right now there are plenty of positive things to point at.

No contract drama

This feels like the most obvious thing, and it is a difference relative to multiple recent seasons, not just last. At this time last year the Cowboys were in the middle of contentious negotiations with Micah Parsons that would only get more severe.

When this offseason began we all assumed that things with one of George Pickens or Brandon Aubrey, maybe even both, would follow that same pattern. Nope!

Aubrey was given a brand new deal way back when, and Pickens has been tagged, signed it, and declared not to hold out. It really is quite the thing.

How/why did this change happen? Who knows, but let's not complain!

A superstar on defense settled

While Parsons was in the middle of negotiations this time last year, many of us assumed things would work out. The pattern, the aforementioned one, was there thanks to Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb from the offseason prior.

So at this time last year we didn't exactly know that the biggest superstar on the defense had already played his last official down for the team. What's more is that his running mate in Trevon Diggs was also in his last months with the Cowboys. The team needed a superstar for the future and landed one at the trade deadline in Quinnen Williams.

There is zero doubt that this defense belongs to Q now. Obviously other cornerstones like Caleb Downs have been added, but the point here is that a group that was rudderless up until Williams arrived now has leadership. That is great to see.

Offensive line continuity

It has been noted often that the Cowboys are trotting out the same starters along their offensive line two years in a row for the first time in a while. Now to be fair to this point questions linger around Tyler Guyton, but ultimately there is no rookie or new name in tow to be worried about.

This is huge. It is a big deal for the offense at large, and that they have a prominent leader in Tyler Smith (who already received his big-time second deal with the team) is also of significance.

Isn't it wonderful to not have these types of questions?